Figuring out the best foods to eat when you have diabetes can be tough.
The main goal is to keep blood sugar levels well-controlled.
However, it's also important to eat foods that help prevent diabetes complications like heart disease.
Here are the 16 best foods for diabetics, both type 1 and type 2.
1. Fatty Fish
Fatty fish is one of the healthiest foods on the planet.
Salmon, sardines, herring, anchovies and mackerel are great sources of the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, which have major benefits for heart health.
Getting enough of these fats on a regular basis is especially important for diabetics, who have an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
DHA and EPA protect the cells that line your blood vessels, reduce markers of inflammation and improve the way your arteries function after eating .
A number of observational studies suggest that people who eat fatty fish regularly have a lower risk of heart failure and are less likely to die from heart disease .
In studies, older men and women who consumed fatty fish 5–7 days per week for 8 weeks had significant reductions in triglycerides and inflammatory markers .
Fish is also a great source of high-quality protein, which helps you feel full and increases your metabolic rate .
Bottom Line:
Fatty fish contain omega-3 fats that reduce inflammation and other risk factors for heart disease and stroke.
2. Leafy Greens
Leafy green vegetables are extremely nutritious and low in calories.
They're also very low in digestible carbs, which raise your blood sugar levels.
Spinach, kale and other leafy greens are good sources of several vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C.
In one study, increasing vitamin C intake reduced inflammatory markers and fasting blood sugar levels for people with type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure .
In addition, leafy greens are good sources of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin.
These antioxidants protect your eyes from macular degeneration and cataracts, which are common diabetes complications .
Bottom Line:
Leafy green vegetables are rich in nutrients and antioxidants that protect your heart and eye health.
3. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a delicious spice with potent antioxidant activity.
Several controlled studies have shown that cinnamon can lower blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity .
Long-term diabetes control is typically determined by measuring hemoglobin A1c, which reflects your average blood sugar level over 2–3 months.
In one study, type 2 diabetes patients who took cinnamon for 90 days had more than a double reduction in hemoglobin A1c, compared those who only received standard care .
A recent analysis of 10 studies found that cinnamon may also lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels .
However, a few studies have failed to show that cinnamon benefits blood sugar or cholesterol levels, including one on adolescents with type 1 diabetes .
Furthermore, you should limit your intake of cassia cinnamon — the type found in most grocery stores — to less than 1 teaspoon per day.
It contains coumarin, which is linked to health problems at higher doses .
On the other hand, ceylon ("true") cinnamon contains much less coumarin.
Bottom Line:
Cinnamon may improve blood sugar control, insulin sensitivity, cholesterol and triglyceride levels in type 2 diabetics.
4. Eggs
Eggs provide amazing health benefits.
In fact, they're one of the best foods for keeping you full for hours .
Regular egg consumption may also reduce your heart disease risk in several ways.
Eggs decrease inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, increase your "good" HDL cholesterol levels and modify the size and shape of your "bad" LDL cholesterol .
In one study, people with type 2 diabetes who consumed 2 eggs daily as part of a high-protein diet had improvements in cholesterol and blood sugar levels .
In addition, eggs are one of the best sources of lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants that protect the eyes from disease .
Just be sure to eat whole eggs. The benefits of eggs are primarily due to nutrients found in the yolk rather than the white.
Bottom Line:
Eggs improve risk factors for heart disease, promote good blood sugar control, protect eye health and keep you feeling full.
5. Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are a wonderful food for people with diabetes.
They're extremely high in fiber, yet low in digestible carbs.
In fact, 11 of the 12 grams of carbs in a 28-gram (1-oz) serving of chia seeds are fiber, which doesn't raise blood sugar.
The viscous fiber in chia seeds can actually lower your blood sugar levels by slowing down the rate at which food moves through your gut and is absorbed .
Chia seeds may help you achieve a healthy weight because fiber reduces hunger and makes you feel full. In addition, fiber can decrease the amount of calories you absorb from other foods eaten at the same meal .
Additionally, chia seeds have been shown to reduce blood pressure and inflammatory markers (43).
Bottom Line:
Chia seeds contain high amounts of fiber, are low in digestible carbs and may decrease blood pressure and inflammation.
6. Turmeric
Turmeric is a spice with powerful health benefits.
Its active ingredient, curcumin, can lower inflammation and blood sugar levels, while reducing heart disease risk.
What's more, curcumin appears to benefit kidney health in diabetics. This is important, as diabetes is one of the leading causes of kidney disease .
Unfortunately, curcumin isn't absorbed that well on its own. Be sure to consume turmeric with piperine (found in black pepper) in order to boost absorption by as much as 2,000%.
Bottom Line:
Turmeric contains curcumin, which may reduce blood sugar levels and inflammation, while protecting against heart and kidney disease.
7. Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is a great dairy choice for diabetics.
It's been shown to improve blood sugar control and reduce heart disease risk, perhaps partly due to the probiotics it contains .
Studies have found that yogurt and other dairy foods may lead to weight loss and improved body composition in people with type 2 diabetes.
It's believed that dairy's high calcium and conjugated linolic acid (CLA) content may play a role.
What's more, Greek yogurt contains only 6–8 grams of carbs per serving, which is lower than conventional yogurt. It's also higher in protein, which promotes weight loss by reducing appetite and decreasing calorie intake .
Bottom Line:
Greek yogurt promotes healthy blood sugar levels, reduces risk factors for heart disease and may help with weight management.
8. Nuts
Nuts are delicious and nutritious.
All types of nuts contain fiber and are low in digestible carbs, although some have more than others.
Here are the amounts of digestible carbs per 1-oz (28-gram) serving of nuts:
Almonds: 2.6 grams
Brazil nuts: 1.4 grams
Cashews: 7.7 grams
Hazelnuts: 2 grams
Macadamia: 1.5 grams
Pecans: 1.2 grams
Pistachios: 5 grams
Walnuts: 2 grams
Research on a variety of different nuts has shown that regular consumption may reduce inflammation and lower blood sugar, HbA1c and LDL levels .
In one study, people with diabetes who included 30 grams of walnuts in their daily diet for one year lost weight, had improvements in body composition and experienced a significant reduction in insulin levels .
This finding is important because people with type 2 diabetes often have elevated levels of insulin, which are linked to obesity.
In addition, some researchers believe chronically high insulin levels increase the risk of other serious diseases, such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease .
Bottom Line:
Nuts are a healthy addition to a diabetic diet. They're low in digestible carbs and help reduce blood sugar, insulin and LDL levels.
9. Broccoli
Broccoli is one of the most nutritious vegetables around.
A half cup of cooked broccoli contains only 27 calories and 3 grams of digestible carbs, along with important nutrients like vitamin C and magnesium.
Studies in diabetics have found that broccoli may help lower insulin levels and protect cells from harmful free radicals produced during metabolism .
What's more, broccoli is another good source of lutein and zeaxanthin. These important antioxidants help prevent eye diseases .
Bottom Line:
Broccoli is a low-calorie, low-carb food with high nutrient value. It is loaded with healthy plant compounds that can protect against various diseases.
10. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Extra-virgin olive oil is extremely beneficial for heart health.
It contains oleic acid, a type of monounsaturated fat that has been shown to improve triglycerides and HDL, which are often at unhealthy levels in type 2 diabetes.
It may also increase the fullness hormone GLP-1 .
In a large analysis of 32 studies looking at different types of fat, olive oil was the only one shown to reduce heart disease risk .
Olive oil also contains antioxidants called polyphenols. They reduce inflammation, protect the cells lining your blood vessels, keep your LDL cholesterol from becoming damaged by oxidation and decrease blood pressure .
Extra-virgin olive oil is unrefined and retains the antioxidants and other properties that make it so healthy. Be sure to choose extra-virgin olive oil from a reputable source, since many olive oils are mixed with cheaper oils like corn and soy.
Bottom Line:
Extra-virgin olive oil contains healthy oleic acid. It has benefits for blood pressure and heart health.
11. Flaxseeds
Flaxseeds are an incredibly healthy food.
A portion of their insoluble fiber is made up of lignans, which can decrease heart disease risk and improve blood sugar control (79, 80).
In one study, people with type 2 diabetes who took flaxseed lignans for 12 weeks had a significant improvement in hemoglobin A1c (80).
Another study suggested that flaxseeds may lower the risk of strokes and potentially reduce the dosage of medication needed to prevent blood clots (81).
Flaxseeds are very high in viscous fiber, which improves gut health, insulin sensitivity and feelings of fullness (82, 83, 84).
Your body can't absorb whole flaxseeds, so purchase ground seeds or grind them yourself. It's also important to keep flaxseeds tightly covered in the refrigerator to prevent them from going rancid.
Bottom Line:
Flaxseeds may reduce inflammation, lower heart disease risk, decrease blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity.
12. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has many health benefits.
Although it's made from apples, the sugar in the fruit is fermented into acetic acid, and the resulting product contains less than 1 gram of carbs per tablespoon.
Apple cider vinegar has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and lower fasting blood sugar levels. It may also reduce blood sugar response by as much as 20% when consumed with meals containing carbs (85, 86, 87, 88).
In one study, people with poorly controlled diabetes had a 6% reduction in fasting blood sugar when they took 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bed (88).
Apple cider vinegar may also slow stomach emptying and keep you feeling full.
However, this can be a problem for people who have gastroparesis, a condition of delayed stomach emptying that is common in diabetes, particularly type 1 (89).
To incorporate apple cider vinegar into your diet, begin with 1 teaspoon mixed in a glass of water each day. Increase to a maximum of 2 tablespoons per day.
Bottom Line:
Apple cider vinegar can improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels. It may also help you feel full for longer.
13. Strawberries
Strawberries are one of the most nutritious fruits you can eat.
They're high in antioxidants known as anthocyanins, which give them their red color.
Anthocyanins have been shown to reduce cholesterol and insulin levels after a meal. They also improve blood sugar and heart disease risk factors in type 2 diabetes (90, 91, 92).
A one-cup serving of strawberries contains 49 calories and 11 grams of carbs, three of which are fiber.
This serving also provides more than 100% of the RDI for vitamin C, which provides additional anti-inflammatory benefits for heart health (11).
Bottom Line:
Strawberries are low-sugar fruits that have strong anti-inflammatory properties and may help reduce heart disease risk.
14. Garlic
Garlic is a delicious herb with impressive health benefits.
Several studies have shown it can reduce inflammation, blood sugar and LDL cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes
It may also be very effective at reducing blood pressure
In one study, people with uncontrolled high blood pressure who took aged garlic for 12 weeks averaged a 10-point decrease in blood pressure .
One clove of raw garlic contains only 4 calories and 1 gram of carbs.
Bottom Line:
Garlic helps lower blood sugar, inflammation, LDL cholesterol and blood pressure in people with diabetes.
15. Squash
Squash is one of the healthiest vegetables around.
Winter varieties have a hard shell and include acorn, pumpkin and butternut.
Summer squash has a soft peel that can be eaten. The most common types are zucchini and Italian squash.
Like most vegetables, squash contains beneficial antioxidants. Many types of winter squash are high in lutein and zeaxanthin, which protect against cataracts and macular degeneration.
Animal studies using squash extract have also reported reductions in obesity and insulin levels
Although there's very little research on humans, one study found that people with type 2 diabetes who took an extract of the winter squash Cucurbita ficifolia experienced a significant decrease in blood sugar levels.
However, winter squash is higher in carbs than summer squash.
For example, 1 cup of cooked pumpkin contains 9 grams of digestible carbs, while 1 cup of cooked zucchini contains only 3 grams of digestible carbs.
Bottom Line:
Summer and winter squash contain beneficial antioxidants and may help lower blood sugar and insulin levels.
16. Shirataki Noodles
Shirataki noodles are wonderful for diabetes and weight control.
These noodles are high in the fiber glucomannan, which is extracted from konjac root.
This plant is grown in Japan and processed into the shape of noodles or rice known as shirataki.
Glucomannan is a type of viscous fiber, which makes you feel full and satisfied. It also lowers levels of the "hunger hormone" ghrelin.
What's more, it's been shown to reduce blood sugar levels after eating and improve heart disease risk factors in people with diabetes and metabolic syndrome
A 3.5-oz (100-gram) serving of shirataki noodles also contains less than one gram of digestible carbs and just two calories per serving.
However, these noodles are typically packaged with a liquid that has a fishy odor and you need to rinse them very well before use. Then, to ensure a noodle-like texture, cook the noodles for several minutes in a skillet over high heat without added fat.
Bottom Line:
The glucomannan in shirataki noodles promotes feelings of fullness and can improve blood sugar control and cholesterol levels.
Take Home Message
Uncontrolled diabetes increases your risk of several serious diseases.
However, eating foods that help keep blood sugar, insulin and inflammation under control can dramatically reduce your risk of developing complications.
